Bulgaria – The Three Capitals

Itinerary :

Day 1/ Sofia: Arrival at Sofia airport. Transfer to the hotel. Overnight in Sofia.
Day 2/ Sofia – Veliko Tarnovo: After breakfast, transfer to Veliko Tarnovo. On the way – sightseeing tour of Lovech, which will include the Covered Bridge by the craftsman Kolyo Ficheto, Bulgaria’s most famous architect during the Revival period. The tour goes on with a visit of the Varosha architectural and historical reserve – the old quarter, which stands in tiers at the right bank of the river Osam. Continuing the road to Veliko Tarnovo – capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire (1187-1396). Sightseeing tour of the city – Tsarevets hill, Samovodska Charshia. Possibility to attend the show “Sound and Light” on Tsarevets hill (on your own). Overnight in Veliko Tarnovo. (B)
Day 3/ Veliko Tarnovo – Varna: After breakfast, depart for Varna – Bulgaria’s sea capital. On the way – sightseeing tour of Shumen. Visit to the Tombul mosque, which is the biggest mosque in Bulgaria and the second biggest on the Balkan Peninsula. A visit to the Madara Rider – an impressive monument from the early middle ages, the time of the First Bulgarian Empire. This stone relief depicts a majestic horseman-23 m above ground level in an almost vertical 100 m -high cliff on the Northwest slope of the Madara Plateau. It dates back to the year 710 AC. The inscriptions on it tell the story of events that took place in the period of 705 – 831. It is included in the UNESCO List of World Cultural Heritage. In the afternoon – resume the journey to Varna. Overnight in Varna or Surroundings. (B)
Day 4/ Varna: After breakfast, proceed to sightseeing tour of Varna – Dormition of the Theotokos Cathedral and Roman Therms. In the afternoon, a visit to the Archeological Museum, where the famous Varna golden treasure is exhibited – the oldest processed gold in the world (more than 6000 years old). Free time. Overnight in Varna or Surroundings. (B)
Day 5/ Varna – Nesebar: After breakfast. depart for Nesebar. Sightseeing tour of Nesebar – the old town, included in the UNESCO List of World Cultural Heritage (churches from the 10th, 11th, 13th and 14th centuries). Free time in Nesebar. Overnight in Nesebar or Sunny Beach. (B)
Day 6/ Nesebar – Plovdiv: After breakfast, depart for Plovdiv – one of Europe’s most ancient cities, older than Athens, Rome and Constantinople. Sightseeing tour of Plovdiv – a tour of the old town which consists one of the most spectacular ensembles of town houses from the period of the Bulgarian National Revival. Visit to the Saints Constantine and Helena Church, Roman Theatre, Regional Ethnographic Museum. Overnight in Plovdiv. (B)
Day 7/ Plovdiv – Sofia: After breakfast, depart for Sofia. Proceed to Sightseeing tour of Sofia – St. Nedelya Cathedral, St. George Rotunda, Russian church of St. Nicolas, St. Sophia Church, St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Ivan Vazov National Theater. Overnight in Sofia. (B)
Day 8/ Sofia: After breakfast, a guided visit to the National Museum of History and Boyana Church, included in the UNESCO List of World Cultural Heritage and has preserved frescoes of an unknown artist, which date back to the year 1259. The frescoes impress with the spirituality and expressiveness of their images, created 7 years before the birth of Giotto di Bondone, considered the first Renaissance artist. Free time. Overnight in Sofia. (B)
Day 9/ Sofia: After breakfast, transfer to Sofia airport. Depart for your journey onwards. (B)